MARY MARAGHY/StaffStudent Jexxy Masterson, a self-confessed addict of the "CSI" television series, looks right at home doing "laboratory" investigative work.

The baker did it.

Such was the conclusion of giddy, goggled and gloved Lee High School students in a recent forensic science class in which they analyzed evidence in the fictional case of the purloined pennies.

Principal Denise Hall petitioned Duval County school officials to add the course several years ago when the school had a teacher who had worked as a forensic scientist for the state.

"Unfortunately we lost her to a move out of the area," Hall said. "This year we sought to revive it as a fun, hands-on course for students looking for a science elective that was different."

In this critical thinking class, now led by teacher Jon Allen, students explore fingerprints, hair, fiber and blood analysis, as well as crime scene techniques, DNA and more.

During a recent class, students, who were busy filling test tubes with white powders, said the class was amazing and interesting.

"It's a lot of fun," said Jennifer Trujillo, an 11th-grader, who scooped white powder into a test tube with a metal spatula.

Students were seeking the perpetrator who stole the coin collection Allen hoped to retire on. A week after the burglary, "Boscoe Balmer," a construction worker with a sprained wrist and stomach problems, brought to a coin dealer some of the stolen coins in a sack that also contained some white powder. When arrested on larceny charges, Balmer blamed "Durson Dalrymple," a professional baker.

Using a series of chemical tests, students determined the powder on the pennies was corn starch, a baking staple, thus pointing suspicion at the baker.

Had it been epsom salt, used to treat sprains, they may have suspected Balmer, Allen said.

The course has no set curriculum or text book, so Allen has created his own. He said he's having fun and learning a lot himself. Also, he has since become a fan of CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," and he's shown an episode or two in class.

"I'm a 'CSI' addict. I've seen every episode of every season in all three cities," said Jexxy Masterson, an 11th-grader. "I like science classes a lot. And this was better than another gym class. Plus, Mr. Allen teaches it."

Students said Allen is a favorite teacher.

"He's like a father figure to me," one student said, faking tears.

"Let me get my boots on. Things are getting thick in here," Allen said, patting the student on the back.

Hall said Allen is calm, quiet, knowledgeable and creative.

"He accepted the challenge of making this an interactive class based on scenarios and experiments," Hall said. "The forensic course and Mr. Allen are both big hits. We could not have hoped for more."